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What role does racism play in shaping Harrisburg's future? #HBGNext

Heeding God's Call

People join hands in prayer during the Heeding God's Call prayer service held at the Camp Curtain Mitchell Memorial Methodist Church in Harrisburg. The event was a multi-faith prayer service to end gun violence.
JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News

In
the #HBGNext discussion of whether Harrisburg might grow by another 10,000
people, Pennlive commenter Kev10 wrote this:

"Harrisburg is
mostly black and brown and sorry to say it but whites don't like living near
those people. Also no way they would sent their children to a schools that is
90% African[-American] / Latino."

(From
context, it seemed the writer was simply noting the phenomenon, not trying to
justify it.)

That
prompted another commenter to write "Harrisburg,
just like much of Philly, is trying too hard to push out what they deem is
undesirable. I'm a black male and I can remove oxygen from a room just by
walking in. It's a shame. Racism is what's killing the city and why smart,
progressive and educated young people leave."

In
response, another commenter wrote "I grew
up in Allentown . . . I went to the inner city schools and I witnessed the
decay and decline of that city ... What happens is that the people who can move
out of a "blighted" town / area will, for a better life and future
for thier families. Most of these people leaving happen to be white,leaving the
other groups to filtering or remain in cheap housing. Then whos to blame for
the crime in that blighted area? Some people just don't like the stats when
they are presented to them."

Harrisburg
is a majority black city with a large Hispanic population. Is
Kev10 right – do whites generally refuse to live in heavily minority areas and
send their children to predominantly minority schools? If so, are they guilty
of prejudice and racism, or are there other reasons that might explain the
phenomenon? Have you personally experienced prejudice/discrimination in Central
Pa.? And how do the questions surrounding diversity and racism affect
Harrisburg's future?